South Korea Registers Highest Birth Rate Increase in 34 Years
South Korea recorded its fastest increase in births in April, marking an 8.7% rise compared to the same month last year, according to official data released on Wednesday.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the Statistics Office recorded the birth of 20,717 babies in April 2025, compared to 19,059 in the same month of 2024, marking the highest increase since April 1991.
Births surpassed the 20,000 mark for the first time in three years, the last occurrence being in April 2022 when the number reached 21,164.
This growth has been attributed to an increase in the number of marriages and demographic changes in the country. Marriages also saw an increase of 4.9%, reaching 18,921 cases, marking the thirteenth consecutive month of rise.
South Korea has struggled for years with a declining birthrate due to young people’s reluctance to marry and have children, influenced by economic pressures and shifts in societal values. To address this decline, the Korean government has introduced various incentives, including financial grants for marriage and childcare allowances, in an effort to encourage families to have children.
